Inge Hauser, a talented illustrator from Austria, has spent years crafting a whimsical universe through her art. Known as “Lotta the Card Girl,” Inge blends illustration and hand-lettering to create enchanting postcards, books, and personal projects that transport viewers to a playful, imaginative world. From childhood sketches to self-illustrated children’s books, her journey has been guided by curiosity, creativity, and a passion for storytelling through visual art.
Based in a small village near Graz, Inge draws inspiration from nature, everyday life, and the magic of imagination. Her creative process combines traditional techniques like watercolours and hand-lettering with digital tools like iPad and InDesign. Through her work, she encourages aspiring creatives to embrace their uniqueness, explore different techniques, and bring their inner worlds to life, proving that illustration is not just a profession, it’s a way to share magic with the world.
How did you first get into the industry?
I got into illustrating in a roundabout way. I love New Zealand and have been there four times. On my third trip, I lived in a beautiful house on the beach for 3 months and wrote my children's book. It disappeared in my laptop for about 10 years. One day I read about the academic university course to become a book designer and signed up. I wrote my story, illustrated it and realised the design of the book.
This is where my passion for illustration was kindled. I printed monotypes and used real, dried plants from New Zealand to depict the landscape in which my story takes place.
That's when I started to work intensively with illustration. I was curious about different techniques and took courses and tried things out.
One day on a car journey home from design university, I had the idea that I wanted to send out self-illustrated postcards. That's when the card girl -my illustration label in me was born.
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I live in a small village near Graz in Austria, at the countryside in an old mill house
What is your personal background, and what role did it play in your career?
I always drew as a child and loved decorating my exercise books. Beautiful writing has always been particularly important to me since I learnt to write. I'm a visual person, so it was easier for me to remember things when they were colourful.
I did my A-levels in structural engineering. There I focussed on spatial imagination, perspective, as well as the interior and exterior design of houses. This also flows into my designs.
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
I worked with disadvantaged children and young people for around 20 years before my current career in illustration. I organised outdoor projects all over Europe. Raft building in Sweden, canoe trips in Poland etc.
Before my current vocation, I did what I really loved. Giving children who have not fallen on the butter side of life wonderful experiences in nature. Here, too, it's the other way round.
Can you explain your creative process? What makes it unique?
I have a little inner magic world and I live it out through Lotta the card girl. Anything is possible in this world. My creative process is controlled by this little inner world. For example, there are beautiful birds and then I draw birds or there are miracle flowers and so I design a miracle flower. A lot of my illustrations end up on my postcards and I send them all over the world. On the front are my motifs, on the back I write magical words to the recipients in beautiful handwriting (handlettering). Illustration and writing and Lotta's world flow into each other.
How would you describe your style?
Playfully childlike and lovely.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
Dare to show yourself, even if you get rejections, don't give up and keep at it. Believe in yourself.
Can you share a memorable experience from your career journey that shaped your approach to creativity?
This was the realisation of my children's book Jara's Magic Valley. I had no experience with Adobe Cloud before university and had to do a lot of self-study alongside my studies. In the end, as a newbie, I ended up designing a finished book. That changed a lot in me and really brought my passion for illustration, design and art to life.
What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?
watercolours, handlettering pens, ipad and indesign
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
I love being out in nature. The vegetation, plants, colours and shapes out there are a great source of inspiration for me. I'm part of an association that organises art workshops and I have artist friends. By exchanging ideas with others, I also get into the flow.
What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?
That I have developed over the years and, above all, that I had the courage to show myself to the big wide world with my illustrations.
I am glad that I created Lotta the card girl, my inner child, my alter ego. She allows me to create my own little world and there are no limits to my imagination. She is my mouthpiece. This idea makes me ‘proud’ in a certain way.
How do you think technology has influenced the creative industries and how have you adapted to these changes?
I used to draw everything with watercolours and then bought an iPad. Today I draw a lot with the iPad or combine the two techniques. It's easy to touch up small mistakes on the iPad that were made on a sheet of paper. As far as AI is concerned, I don't think it can replace hand-drawn illustration and I'm not afraid of it. People who like my illustrations will continue to like them. For example, I want to learn how to use AI to bring my doll Lotta to life and make little animated films. I find that exciting. I think you have to get used to it now that it's there and use it in a way that suits you.
Any websites, books or resources you would recommend?
For me, it's children's books that inspire me. I have a collection of them. My favourite book is Ronja the Robber's Daughter by Astdrid Lindgren.
